Civil rights laws are designed to protect employees from discrimination, retaliation, and unfair treatment in various aspects of everyday life, including in the workplace. When an employer’s actions interfere with these protections, it may raise concerns under federal, state, and local civil rights laws.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics (race, color, religion, sex, national origin). Discrimination based on an employee’s age or disability is also prohibited under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These laws are intended to ensure that employees, and job applicants, have equal access to opportunities and are treated fairly at work.

Types of Civil Rights Workplace Violations

Civil rights violations in the workplace may include discrimination, harassment, retaliation, unequal pay, denial of promotions, or policies that disproportionately affect certain groups of employees. These issues can arise in all aspects of employment including hiring, job assignments, compensation, discipline, and termination.

Many states provide additional protections. For example, the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) broadly prohibits discrimination and retaliation in employment, often covering smaller employers and additional categories such as sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status and marital status. Furthermore, the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) provides similar protections and also prohibits requesting or using consumer credit history for employment decisions as well as discriminating against applicants or employees based on their status as a caregiver. 

Learn more about the additional protections provided in New York State and New York City on the New York State Attorney General’s website or New York City Human Rights Law website.

How We Can Help

Employees who have concerns about potential civil rights violations at work should consult with an attorney experienced in employment law to discuss their circumstances and better understand their rights and options. At Valli Kane & Vagnini, we are an experienced, boutique law firm with extensive litigation experience in individual and class action suits nationwide and we are ready to fight aggressively to help you protect your rights.

Learn more about Federal workplace civil rights on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.